Ryan Braun's ovation on Opening Day created a lasting memory

It's amazing how quickly time can fly.

This evening is already game number four of the 162-game Major League Baseball season. Opening Day at Miller Park is in the rear view mirror with the Milwaukee Brewers on the road until April 17.

At that point, 10 games will be in the books.

It does seem like forever ago when I wondered about the appeal of Opening Day, but Brewers fans did not disappoint in making that game unlike any other I've attended with the way they welcomed their MVP home. (Watch the at-bat here).

Of course, I didn't expect anything less. You cheer for your guy.

But this ovation was something different.

The sound was unique to me. Maybe it was because it was indoors, I don't know. But it had a feel to it, an energy, which made me look up, look around, and think "now this is something."

After the game, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke played it cool.

"Well, that's what I expected it to be," he said. "People like him here, and there's a reason they like him. He's a classy guy. He's a great ballplayer. He goes out of his way to sign autographs. He goes out of his way for the community. So I understand why they feel the way they do about him."
But the man who it was intended for genuinely seemed moved by it.

"From the bottom of my heart, it meant a lot to me," Braun said. "It was definitely much appreciated."

He tipped his cap. Then waited. And waited some more. He tried to get in the batter's box, and get things going, but couldn't quite follow his traditional pre-at-bat routine.

That ovation was powerful enough that a major league baseball player, a professional, a superstar, couldn't quite figure out how to get in the batter's box.

"It was certainly something that I appreciated, but it's a little uncomfortable, because you don't want to take away from the game, you never want to be disrespectful to an opponent or anything like that," he admitted after the game. "It's not really something you can be prepared for or know what to do. So I just kind of wanted to get the at-bat under way."

For lack of a better word, it was unbelievable.

Now, we're on to more important things: Will Yovani Gallardo find his rhythm at a cold Wrigley Field? Which Shaun Marcum will we see? How long will Corey Hart stay hot? Will the middle relief improve?

All are legitimate questions, and all will be answered in due time.

And as the season, and especially the years, go on – all will be forgotten, replaced by new concerns. There is always a new "something" to talk about.

One question that will never go away, and one Ryan Braun will always be glad to answer, about that ovation, that at-bat, on Opening Day of 2012. And he'll always remember.

Now that is something.


(onmilwaukee.com)